By Clifford Keddie Conteh
The crowds I saw with my own eyes last night, on the streets of Freetown to welcome the APC Flagbearer, Samura Kamra, were fabulously HUMONGOUS!!!
The PAOPA government of his Excellency the President, Retired Brigadier Julius Maada Bio, continues to use heavy-handed tactics to intimidate disrespectfullly, the leaders of the opposition.
I have always wondered all throughout the previous four years of the PAOPA government and repeatedly asked this question; WETIN SLPP HABOPE PAN??? The first two years they seemed in disbelief that they actually were in control, and instead of governance, they embarked on a full-blown tribalistic overhaul of all existing systems and personnel.
The next two years saw continued tribalism and arrogance, many rogue and suppressive tactics such as what happened with the Auditor General, di Pa on one side trotting around the globe and racking up per diems for himself and entourage, di Mammy dae yanda dae dance en shumor pan pipul dem on Tik-tok.
As I weave around the streets of Freetown and talk with folks from all walks of life, the overwhelming feeling is of frustration due to the staggering poverty and desperation. Since they took over, this PAOPA government has not only miserably failed to handle the economy, but disgracefully not shown the slightest interest in doing so. When the US Dollar swept passed the Le 2 million mark for $100 with barely a whimper or an effort on the part of government and their financial institutions to hold and steady our currency at such a distinct juncture, was for me another in a long list of indications that dis government does nott have the knowledge and they don’t care.
So, by all indications, dis PAOPA regime were not prepared to govern and had no plan. Before elbowing his way to become the Flagbearer of his party and eventually the presidency, this man had squandered millions of previously stolen wealth and was beyond financial life-support. Most of his appointments are geared towards REWARDING those who sustained him during those periods, and little thought towards keeping in place, or putting, people who actually knew their jobs.
Now, the hour of reckoning has come. It is time for them to give account of their stewardship, and they have 4-call!!! The people are beyond fed-up. They are PIIIIIIIISSSSSSED and they are sickened! One petty-trader in my neighborhood told me, ‘bo seriously, Keddie, dis government don make am so difficult for leh we fen we living. You go Guinea o, by di tem you change money, e don halaki na you han, u nor dae see sef wetin for buy for cam make profit. If we lef dis government na power, insai 1-year, $100 go reach Le 3 million. Leh den comot so dat di wan dem wae be know hiw for steady di Dollar go cam back’.
Another person analyzed to me in this fashion saying, bo Cliff, wach normor, the first term of EBK when he was truly interested in leading and governing, you could see it, it was EVIDENT. More importantly, he kept others in check, funds for projects were used maybe 60-70% appropriately. During his second term, he switched into geddar-geddar mode, and his cronies followed to the point that it became a free-for-all. Maada Bio’s first term can be likened to that second term of EBK. Government in Sierra Leone is unfortunately a one-man operation, but as the leader moves, so does his followers and supporters and cronies.
His Excellency the President, Retired Brigadier Julius Maada Bio would do himself, his family, his supporters, his Region, and this country well, to desist from intimidating the opposition and allow the electioneering process to carry on smoothly. You promised a bridge to Lungi and delivered a handful of footbridges. You canceled an ultramodern airport in a location that would have changed the dynamics in traveling to Sierra Leone in exchange for an extension of an airport in the same location with the age-old problem of a sea journey after people are already weary from journeying into the country.
Let me throw in some comic relief. Do you know what our people in the East call those hypocrites in the West? SUFFER-POSH! ‘Den dey make lek say nor to we all day suffer en eat dry ress en white plassass. ‘Wate pettetteh’ lif or oda plassass bach then used to be one with groundnut oil, coconut oil or nut oil, today, wate plassass is one withno oil at all and just water, because the families are simply unable to afford palmoil or other substitutes.
My advice to this government is to settle down and allow the process to proceed with dignity and quality. The people of Sierra Leone are too hungry and too angry to allow any sonkoh-sonkoh business to take place. Di Pa dae woke, di Pa dae woke, okay, fine. Well, if di Pa don woke, the hour has arrived for him to tell the people he was worked well enough for them to give him a second opportunity to continue his good work. That’s what electioneering is all about and all di Pa needs to do is TRUST THE PROCESS!!!
